In the wake of the shooting, we pray
May 15, 2022 | A Message from Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18
Beloved, all hearts join in sorrow and grief for those families who suffered loss yesterday in Buffalo, New York. The mind cannot fathom that in the blink of an eye such senseless tragedy occurred again. With this shooting, we witnessed hatred become violence again. Again.
Until we stand united against hatred of any kind we are all enslaved, we are all imprisoned, we are all bound, we are all at risk. No one is free until we are all free. This is our common and corporate work. This is our universal and uniting call. We cannot pretend this is someone else’s responsibility -- it is OUR responsibility.
And as this was live-streamed across social media, may we never grow numb to nor accept such vulgar displays of depravity.
May God’s grace gently enfold all who weep and wail as a result of this tragedy. Even as we acknowledge that the pain is devastating and the tears inconsolable, we also acknowledge that earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
Blessings and Peace,
LaTrelle Easterling
Bishop, Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences
The United Methodist Church